U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin informed Congress of an impending shortfall in funds for the Veterans Choice Program in June. In response, House and Senate VA committee leaders worked together to pass the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 to authorize and appropriate funding for the VA to continue the Veterans Choice Program and strengthen VA care. House and Senate leaders applauded the signing of the critical legislation by President Trump to ensure veterans have access to health care …

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs highlighted broad support for the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation to overhaul the outdated benefits claims appeals process at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VAs appeals process is in significant need of updating. Nearly half a million veterans are in limbo because of the VAs existing appeals backlog. The bill is supported by VA Secretary David Shulkin and has also won the support of veterans groups that represent millions …

As they return from legislative recess, lawmakers will have only a few days to address financial problems with the Veterans Affairs Choice program before users start to see significant problems. VA Secretary David Shulkin warned lawmakers that money in the Choice program funds was being spent at a faster rate than expected, threatening to bankrupt the program before the end of the fiscal year. He has asked for authority to move money from other sources to cover the funding gaps, ensuring that veteran medical appointments …

Its time to rethink a veteran disability system that “incentivizes disability,” Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said during a recent forum in Washington. He stated that our system should be incentivizing health and well-being. Shulkin made the comments in response to a question about whether the system should be re-evaluated. Potential new offerings could include wellness programs, rather than simply monthly compensation payments.

Future Veterans Affairs clinics could feature fewer maternity services, fewer cancer specialists and more reliance on private-sector clinics for routine or non-military care, under Secretary David Shulkins vision for the department.We dont have enough resources to do everything” he said, “so lets build an integrated system that relies on what already exists in the private sector with what needs to be enhanced in the VA. This is not a move towards privatization, he said. “This is amove to help veterans.

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin addressed reporters at the White House on the VA and his top priorities for the department. Priorities include more timely medical care access for vets, reduced disability claims backlogs, expanded community care options for patients, improved information technology systems and more.

View his informative presentation and his responses to the many questions of reporters: http://bit.ly/2skdaLR

The House has approved legislation to cut the time it takes for the Department of Veterans Affairs to handle appeals from veterans unhappy with their disability payouts. It’s an effort to reduce a rapidly growing claims backlog. The bill would overhaul the current VA appeals process, long described by VA Secretary David Shulkin and his predecessors as “broken.” Lawmakers hope the legislation ultimately could reduce average wait times to less than a year.

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said he hopes to have a replacement for the controversial Choice Card program before Congress by this fall, a move that would give lawmakers just a few months of debate before the current program runs out. President Trump is scheduled to sign legislation extending the Choice program past August until the end of 2017, when funding for those services are expected to run out.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) David Shulkin announced that the VA will unveil a new website this month that will help veterans make better choices about their health care. The website will feature up-to-date wait times for medical appointments and will allow patients to rate their care at VA facilities. The website is part of the Secretary’s 10-point plan to modernize VA care.

State Veterans Affairs agencies are second only to the federal Veterans Affairs in providing benefits and services to veterans and their families. The state departments, while independent of the federal VA, are key partners in the mission to fulfill the promise of Abraham Lincoln: to care for those “who shall have borne the battle.” State agencies primarily assist vets with accessing and applying for federal VA care and benefits. In addition to connecting vets to federal resources, each state government offers additional benefits or services to their …